SEROPREVALENCE OF HUMAN T-LYMPHOTROPIC VIRUS TYPE-I (HTLV-I) IN SAUDI-ARABIA

During the past 6 years, blood donors at various hospitals and blood b anks in Saudi Arabia have been screened by enzyme immuno-assay for ant ibodies to human T-lymphotropic virus type I (anti-HTLV-I). Seropositi vity for anti-HTLV-I, clearly confirmed by western blot, was only demo nstrable in three out of the 34 541 subjects (including at least 21 00 0 Saudi nationals). The three positives were all expatriates: two Indi ans and one Syrian. Another six subjects, who gave ambiguous reactions on western blots and may also have been positive, were also all expat riates. Saudi Arabia therefore appears to be a non-endemic area for HT LV-I and hence the current practice of screening all blood donors for anti-HTLV-I does not seem to be cost-effective. An alternative strateg y, in which only expatriate blood donors are screened, should perhaps be considered by the Saudi Ministry of Health.